The Persecutors: The Philistines
Why the Persecution: God was blessing Isaac, and they envied him
Result: The Philistines could not subdue Isaac, so they made peace with him
The Persecutors: Israelites
Why the Persecution: The Israelites wanted water
Result: God provided water, in answer to Moses’ prayer
(1 Samuel 20–27; Psalms 31:13; 59:1-4)
The Persecutors: Saul and others
Why the Persecution: David was becoming a powerful leader, threatening Saul’s position as king
Result: David endured the persecution and became king
The Persecutors: Saul and Doeg
Why the Persecution: Saul and Doeg thought the priests helped David escape
Result: 85 priests were killed
The Persecutors: Jezebel
Why the Persecution: Jezebel didn’t like to have her evil ways pointed out
Result: Many prophets were killed
The Persecutors: Ahab and Jezebel
Why the Persecution: Elijah confronted their sins
Result: Elijah had to flee for his life
The Persecutors: Ahab
Why the Persecution: Ahab thought Micaiah was stirring up trouble rather than prophesying from God
Result: Micaiah was thrown into prison
The Persecutors: A king of Israel (probably Joram)
Why the Persecution: The king thought Elisha had caused the famine
Result: Elisha ignored the threatened persecution and prophesied the famine’s end
The Persecutors: Asa
Why the Persecution: Hanani criticized Asa for trusting in Aram’s help more than in God’s help
Result: Hanani was thrown in prison
The Persecutors: Joash
Why the Persecution: Zechariah confronted the people of Judah for disregarding God’s commands
Result: Zechariah was executed
The Persecutors: Jehoiakim
Why the Persecution: Uriah confronted Jehoiakim about his evil ways
Result: Uriah was killed with a sword
The Persecutors: Zedekiah
Why the Persecution: Zedekiah thought Jeremiah was a traitor for prophesying Jerusalem’s fall
Result: Jeremiah was thrown in prison, then into a muddy cistern
(Daniel 3)
The Persecutors: Nebuchadnezzar
Why the Persecution: The three men refused to bow down to anyone but God
Result: They were thrown into a blazing furnace, but God miraculously saved them
(Daniel 6)
The Persecutors: National leaders
Why the Persecution: Daniel was praying
Result: Daniel was thrown into a den of lions, but God miraculously saved him
(Job 1:8-12; 2:3-7)
The Persecutors: Satan
Why the Persecution: Satan wanted to prove that pain and suffering would make a person abandon God
Result: Job remained faithful to God and was restored
The Persecutors: Herod and Herodias
Why the Persecution: John confronted King Herod’s adultery
Result: John was beheaded
(Mark 7:1-16; Luke 22:63–24:7)
The Persecutors: Religious leaders
Why the Persecution: Jesus exposed their sinful motives
Result: Jesus was crucified, but rose again from the dead to show his authority over all evil
The Persecutors: Religious leaders
Why the Persecution: Peter and John preached that Jesus was God’s Son and the only way to salvation
Result: They were thrown into prison, but later released
(Acts 6–7)
The Persecutors: Religious leaders
Why the Persecution: Stephen exposed their guilt in crucifying Jesus
Result: Stephen was stoned to death
(Acts 8:1-3; 9:1-9)
The Persecutors: Paul and others
Why the Persecution: The Christians preached Jesus as the Messiah
Result: Believers faced death, prison, torture, exile
The Persecutors: Herod Agrippa I
Why the Persecution: To please the Jewish leaders
Result: James was executed
The Persecutors: Herod Agrippa I
Why the Persecution: To please the Jewish leaders
Result: Peter was thrown into prison
The Persecutors: Jews, city officials
Why the Persecution: Paul preached about Jesus and confronted those who made money by manipulating others
Result: Paul was stoned; thrown into prison
The Persecutors: Unknown
Why the Persecution: Unknown
Result: Timothy was thrown into prison
The Persecutors: Probably the Romans
Why the Persecution: John told others about Jesus
Result: John was sent into exile on a remote island
Micaiah, like thousands of believers before and after him, was persecuted for his faith. The chart shows that persecution comes from a variety of people and is given in a variety of ways. Sometimes God protects us from it; sometimes he doesn’t. But as long as we remain faithful to God alone, we must expect persecution (see also Luke 6:22; 2 Corinthians 6:4-10; 2 Timothy 2:9-12; Revelation 2:10). God also seems to have a special reward for those who endure such persecution (Revelation 6:9-11; 20:4).